The Google Lunar X PRIZE

2-Apr-2013 Comments (0)

The Google Lunar X PRIZE is igniting a new era of lunar exploration by offering the largest international incentive prize of all time. A total of $30 million in prizes are available to the first privately funded teams to safely land a robot on the surface of the Moon, have that robot travel 500 meters over the lunar surface, and send video, images and data back to the Earth. Teams must be at least 90% privately funded, though commercially reasonable sales to government customers are allowed without limit.

Team registration for the competition closed on December 31, 2010. There are currently 23 teams (including lone entry fro India Team Indus ) located around the world who are fundraising, mission planning, and building robots in a new race to the Moon. The teams have until the end of 2015 to get to the Moon, meet the prize objectives, and win the prize purses.

Why the Moon?
Scientists and explorers have shown that the Moon is an ideal platform from which to study the Earth and the wider solar system and universe. There is much we can learn about the formation of our planet and the solar system by studying the Moon. Further, the Moon has untapped resources that could allow us to improve the quality of life here on Earth as well as expand our permanent presence beyond Earth orbit.

Why an X PRIZE?
History has shown that incentive prizes stimulate innovation and create revolutions. At $30 million, the Google Lunar X PRIZE is the largest incentive prize of all time, reflecting the vast technological and funding challenge of achieving a lunar landing.

Why Google?
Google is sponsoring the Google Lunar X PRIZE to help stimulate a passion for science, technology, engineering, and math related research and education in a generation of potential innovators. They also expect this prize to stimulate the space economy in ways that provide lower cost and more plentiful access to space than is currently possible. Google has contracted with the X PRIZE Foundation to administer all aspects of the Google Lunar X PRIZE. A panel comprising highly qualified and impartial judges from around the world will judge the prize. They will be responsible for evaluating teams’ compliance with the requirements of the X PRIZE.

Why Now?
Commercial space companies are now opening up the sub-orbital and orbital frontier - doing things that once were the realm of governments and their contractors and achieving it in ways that are often more cost effective and efficient. This “NewSpace” economy was stimulated in a significant way by the $10 million Ansari X PRIZE, awarded in 2004, for the achievement of regular sub orbital flight. Following on from the Ansari X PRIZE, the $1 million Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge spurred innovation in technologies to soft land on the Moon. Building upon that to innovate inexpensive regular access to the Moon is the next critical stepping stone for further exploration of our solar system and universe.

The Google Lunar X PRIZE aims to create a new era of lunar exploration that will be more sustainable and more accessible to all than humanity’s first moon race. Google Lunar X PRIZE and the stories of the global community of innovators and entrepreneurs competing for the it, will motivate the high tech workforce of tomorrow and show people of all ages how they can personally contribute to a worthy and exciting endeavor like space exploration.

SOURCE : googlelunarxprize.org

Practice Questions

Q1

Match the folllowing List of Sportperson with the Sports they excel in :

Top Teams: Mercedes, Red Bull, Ferrari and Force India.

Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy has been sworn in as acting Governor of Arunachal Pradesh.

He has been given the additional charge of Governor of Arunachal Pradesh during the leave of absence of incumbent Governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa.

Roy was administered the oath of office by Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court, Justice Ajit Singh as per the provisions of Article 159 of Constitution of India. He is the 18th Governor to be sworn in as Governor of this Himalayan State.

About Tathagata Roy :

Tathagata Roy born on 14 September 1945 in Kolkata, West Bengal is politician, engineer and author. He studied Civil Engineering in Bengal Engineering College Sibpur and joined Indian Railways Service of Engineers.

He took voluntary retirement in 1990 and Jadavpur University as professor and founder head of the Department of Construction Engineering. He was attracted towards Hindutva and became a Swayamsevak in 1986. After leaving government service he joined the BJP in 1990.

He has authored two books :

The Life and Times of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee.

My People, Uprooted: A Saga of the Hindus of Eastern Bengal.

Constitutional provisions of Governor :

Article 153: There shall be a Governor for each State. The 7th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1956 provides that nothing in this article shall prevent the appointment of the same person as Governor for two or more States.

Article 156: The Governor shall hold office during the pleasure of the President. The Governor may, by writing under his hand addressed to the President, resign his office. Governor is appointed by President and hold office during the pleasure of President.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has signed Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with IIT-Bombay and Madras to establish a bi-nodal ‘Centre of Propulsion Technology’ (CoPT) at the two institutions.

The initiative is aimed at achieving synergy between DRDO and Indian Institutes of Technology for channelising the research efforts towards developing products and related critical aerospace technologies.

CoPT will evolve mechanisms to facilitate execution of programs related to propulsion technology and will engage the primary Research Nodes (IIT Bombay and IIT Madras) and other research institutions.

It will facilitate and undertake multidisciplinary directed research in the focused areas of futuristic aero engines, hypersonic propulsion for long duration flight.

References

The information provided here has references from various newspaper
and websites. You can Report this article if you find something
inappropriate or some errors with facts and information provided
herein. Report

Like us ?

By solving 2 + 2 won't make you genius or by liking Sai Baba post won't make you successful. But if you read boring current affairs delivered by erewise then it will certainly help you crack your exams.

Erewise is a revision web portal especially designed & dedicated to students who want to make it big in the world through their academic skills and talents.

We cater to the needs of those who seek career in high offices by cracking competitive exams like SSC, UPSC, Banking, State PCS and others by providing them with comprehensive and interactive learning contents that keep them abreast with the relevant news and events around the world in an appealing way.

Write for us

You can now write your ideas/views on the current affairs and let all others to read them by publishing them on our website.

It's a golden chance to analyse your state of preparations by writing on daily current events and reviewing response/comments received on them.